Original subtitles

During the religious revolution in Europe,

Buddhism in Japan was also undergoing some changes.

The Jodo Sect of Buddhism founded by Shinran,

was being promulgated by his disciple Rennyo.

He approached merchants, landlords, and the lower classes,

and taught that by chanting "Namu-ami-dabutsu,"

one could find the path to heaven.

He also taught that all was equal in Buddha's eyes.

This was the start of the so-called Ikko Sect.

It spread throughout Japan and resulted in the Ikko riots.

Kaga was overthrown by these Ikko Sect believers...

and was said to have been run by farmers.

By Nobunaga's time, the Ikko Sect was a powerful entity...

that dealt on an equal basis with nobles and daimyo.

From a political and military point of view,

they were hard to ignore.

They eventually became Nobunaga's greatest foe.

Nobunaga

Episode 33: "An Encircling Operation"

Original Story & Screenplay: Tamukai Seiken

Music: Mori Kurodo

Original Subtitles TV Network Japan, Inc.

Transcribed and Edited Subtitles Kame Fansubs

CAST

Oda Nobunaga OGATA NAOTO

Rui TAKAHASHI KEIKO

Onabe WAKAMURA MAYUMI

Ikeda Tsuneoki MATOBA KOJI

Oichi WASHIO ISAKO

Shibata Katsuie TAKITA SAKAE

Hosokawa Fujitaka KATSUNO HIROSHI

Akechi Mitsuhide MICHAEL TOMIOKA

Maeda Toshiie HASHIZUME JUN

Niwa Nagahide SUGIMOTO TETTA

Asai Nagamasa TATSUMI TAKURO

Takigawa Kazumasu SHIBA TOSHIO

Inaba Yoshimichi SHINODA SABURO

Kinoshita Tokichiro (Hideyoshi) NAKAMURA TOHRU

Sakuma Nobumori TANAKA KEN

Hayashi Michikatsu UTSUI KEN

Kano Zuiten HIRA MIKIJIRO

Producer: Yagi Masaji

Director: Yoshikawa Ikuo

March, 1572

After Nobunaga burnt down Mt. Hiei,

Nobunaga did not go out to battle for some time.

He had fought in battles for many years,

and as the Japanese would say, he rested his bones.

And New Year's of the following year,

his oldest son, Kimyo, was initiated into manhood.

My heir, Kimyo, as of today is 16 years old,

and will be renamed Kankuro Nobushige.

As a full-fledged warrior, Nobushige will sit at the head.

Congratulations.

Congratulations.

Though I, Hayashi Michikatsu, am unworthy,

on behalf of the others, may I express our greetings?

On this occasion, you have reached manhood...

and have been pronounced the official Oda successor.

We vassals express our heartiest congratulations to you.

We hope you will be going to battle soon...

to demonstrate your courage as a warrior.

As this is also the New Year,

we take this opportunity to wish the Oda continued prosperity.

For everlasting prosperity!

For everlasting prosperity!

So I can ward off the evil of the past year,

and to wish you longevity, I will serve the wine.

Get me the wine server.

Congratulations.

We will start off the year tying up loose ends.

To assure the peace of the nation,

we must keep a closer eye on the shogun.

I banned the shogun from making any correspondence...

without my knowledge, but he has not complied.

We know for a fact that he pulls the strings...

behind the Asai, Asakura, Miyoshi, and Hongwanji.

This coming year, we will have stricter security...

of those entering and leaving Kyoto in order to isolate...

the shogun from other provinces.

Then we will defeat the Asai and Asakura.

As a start, I've been working on provincial lords from the Asai domain,

and recognition is due to Hideyoshi for finally convincing vassal Isono.

Hideyoshi.

Call Isono.

Someone!

Call Sir Isono.

My lord. I have a special request.

When you go to battle with the Asai,

please allow me to be the vanguard.

Yokoyama Castle, for which I am now the keeper,

is near Odani Castle and I know the area well.

Sir Isono, who knows Odani Castle like the back of his hand,

will serve as my guide and we can easily defeat them.

I'll keep it in mind.

Yes. I am most grateful.

Sir Isono Kazumasa is present.

Oh, Sir Isono!

Come in!

I am pleased to report that Sir Isono is now one of my men.

Pay your respects to the lord.

I thank you for your time.

I am former Asai vassal and Sawayama Castle lord Isono Kazumasa.

Sir Kinoshita has invited me to serve you as my lord...

and I am grateful for the opportunity.

I would like to vow my loyalty to you here again.

Good. Be devoted in bringing peace to the nation.

You are fortunate to have met Hideyoshi.

Kinoshita enjoys talking and loves people.

If another man had been at Yokoyama Castle,

you would be on your way to heaven by now.

First be grateful to Hideyoshi.

Let me serve you some sake.

Reporting. There is a messenger from Yokoyama Castle here.

What? From my castle?

Yes.

Tell him I will be right there.

It's alright. Let him through.

What's wrong?

Reporting! Since dusk, the Asai have been attacking with 500-600 men!

On New Year's?

I'll be back before dark.

Tell the men not to leave the castle.

Hurry!

The Asai are visiting for New Year's.

I'll be going now.

I'll send some men later.

Please allow me to accompany you.

Thank you.

Isono Kazumasa...

It will be an opportunity to show your capabilities.

I'll be leaving then.

Forgive me for my insolence.

He just doesn't learn.

I'll get rid of Nobunaga this time.

He burnt down Mt. Hiei and terrified priests.

As a leader, I cannot overlook his actions.

I will order various provinces to rise and destroy Nobunaga.

The Imperial Court and many feudal lords...

are angry about Nobunaga's actions,

and wrote countless letters to punish him.

This is an opportune time. It must be done!

I, Hosokawa Fujitaka, beg to differ.

I believe you are right to feel this way,

but right now Nobunaga is much too powerful.

So, are you suggesting we overlook this?

I am not saying that.

We must talk to him and direct him appropriately.

Sir Hosokawa. You are an important Bakufu official.

You have seen how Nobunaga has mistreated the shogun.

Nobunaga is wrong, but so are we.

What about us is in the wrong?!

For taking him too lightly.

When Nobunaga agreed to lead the shogun to Kyoto,

we should have been able to see his motives.

It's too late to regret that now.

As the shogun says, it is the best time for this.

If we gather all the armies, we can defeat Nobunaga.

Sir Ueno. Please reconsider.

The Bakufu's army consists of less than 10,000 men.

If others must come from outside,

how will we be able to defeat Nobunaga?

Even if the Asai, Asakura, and Miyoshi side with us,

we will still lose to Nobunaga.

Why are you so weak-minded?!

I'm not. I am just stating the facts.

What will happen if we lose?

We can't cry over our misfortunes.

Hosokawa?

Are you saying we shouldn't go to battle?

Now the nation has come to some sort of peace,

and both inside and outside of Kyoto,

new homes are built and merchants' travel has increased business.

Though the image of the Bakufu is still poor,

we have preserved its status to an extent.

This is not the time to ruffle feathers,

but we should talk and avoid battles.

I know your anguish and frustrations, your honor,

but this is all the sign of the times.

The Bakufu can never control all 66 domains.

What we can do is protect the emperor...

and maintain peace within the capital.

Unfortunately, nothing more can be sought.

Please don't let the Ashikaga's righteous flow of things be stopped.

Then Nobunaga will be forced to support you.

Have you lost your senses to Nobunaga?!

Ashikaga's righteous flow has nothing to do with time!

But, instead, it creates the flow of the times!

I refuse to allow that lowly Nobunaga to rule!

As of today you are a full-fledged warrior.

Someday you will succeed to the Oda throne.

So I have a bit of advice for you.

Although I am in a powerful post in the government,

I haven't actually accomplished much.

I am still a far cry from unifying or creating a new nation.

The battles will continue for awhile.

You have had no experience with battles as of yet.

The battlefield is like hell.

Death opens its door, waiting for you to enter.

Avoiding that door and still winning is difficult.

For this to end, you must go to battle soon...

so you can learn the trade.

Yes. I would like to request that.

I will become a strong warrior worthy of the Oda.

Never forget that commitment.

Yes.

And one more important thing...

Yes?

Do not trust what is invisible to the eye.

If you do, your sight becomes clouded.

Gods and Buddha are human creations.

Therefore, they are not visible to the eye.

Prophets and fortunes are also like that.

You must not believe in them.

Just trust yourself. Your vision.

Yes.

I was raised as a child by a prophet, Zuiten.

I followed what he said like it was heaven's will.

I have seen magic and even met and spoke with the dead.

So, somewhere within me,

I still believe in the powers of the unknown.

Even now, when I have defied Zuiten's warnings...

and have gained some degree of status in the government.

Though I say Mt. Hiei is just a mountain,

I have feelings of remorse.

But, I need to rid myself of those thoughts.

Believe in yourself.

Pay attention to your ears and hear that faraway voice.

Then you will know that heaven's will is within you.

Yes.

It seems like you have regained your health.

Yes. The pain in my chest is gone now.

We are in a new year.

With a renewed feeling, anticipate good dreams.

Yes.

I'm sorry about Natsu.

But, you must forget her.

Yes.

By the way, whatever happened to Matsu?

We haven't found her yet.

We have been searching...

I hope she is fine.

It is like she was hidden by the gods.

No. Zuiten is involved with this.

He must have hidden her somewhere.

Why would he do that?

I don't know.

He's a sorcerer with unusual powers.

That night I saw the late lord.

It wasn't only me.

There were three men at the main gate...

who saw him carrying a woman under his arms.

That may be part of Zuiten's sorcery.

I advise you to be careful yourself.

Yes.

That man can be killed, but yet come back to life.

Sir Hayashi...

Why are you surprised?

You must have known long ago of my coming.

Of course not.

I would never expect you to visit my shambles.

What can I do for you?

I have a question.

What could it be?

Forgive me. Please come in and sit. Please.

I am sorry that though it is New Year's,

I'm dressed like this and have no food for the sake.

I'm just a pitiful man living all alone.

Please, have a drink.

But, to think Sir Hayashi would come to visit me.

I am just so grateful.

No one ever pays any attention to me now.

Look at my rundown home.

In my former status, I would have pitied myself.

When I loved Lady Rui, I lost everything.

Is loving another person a crime?

I was once killed, but my love still lingers.

How pathetic at my age.

I wish he had just beheaded me that time.

By the way, where did you hide Matsu?

Huh?

Wipe those tears. It doesn't become you.

Forgive me.

So where is Matsu?

Did you say, Matsu?

Don't act stupid. Lady Rui is very worried.

I don't know anything.

I'm on your side.

I'm not lying.

What happened to Matsu anyway?

She's been missing since you visited the castle.

Is that so?

That night, someone tried to poison Lady Onabe.

Natsu, who tasted her food, died instead.

You must have heard.

No, I returned home before it was dark.

I don't know what happened after that.

You mentioned calling the late lord that day.

Did I say that?

That night Lady Rui saw the late lord,

who was staring at her.

That must have been your sorcery.

Sir Hayashi. Do you think I can perform that now?

I can't even feed myself.

Sorcery is beyond my abilities.

Then, who attempted to poison Lady Onabe?

Poison?

I told you that Natsu died instead.

I don't know who tried to poison Lady Onabe,

but how ridiculous to get rid of the death god with that.

Exactly. And, Lady Onabe is really not the death god either.

Yes, Lady Onabe is the death god.

Come to think of it, you hate the lord a lot.

That's not so.

I am grateful to the lord and have never hated him.

I believe I got what I deserved.

It makes sense if you used Matsu to poison Lady Onabe.

Sir Hayashi. Would I do such a strange thing?

I have served the Oda for three generations...

and assisted in the unification of Owari.

Why would I do anything to bring doom to the Oda?

Then bring good fortune back to us!

The lord may leave for Omi any day.

He plans to go to Kyoto as well.

You predicted the ominous "Suizanken" for him.

If he travels southwest, he will never return to Gifu alive.

Or was that a lie, too?

I never lie! That "Suizanken" fortune is real!

Then do something!

Whether the fortune is bad or not, he is departing.

But think of me who has to see him off.

Study the fortunes for a new prediction!

Keep doing it until you get a positive one.

The lord burnt Mt. Hiei and beheaded priests.

Everyone in Japan knows of that incident.

Unless he gets the best of fortunes,

I'm afraid to see him off to anything.

It's the same, "Suizanken"...

Zuiten tried to redo the fortunes from that day,

only to find that "Suizanken" kept reappearing.

In March, Nobunaga left for Omi...

to attack Asai Nagamasa and the Asakura.

On his return, he stopped in Kyoto and returned to Gifu alive.

Hayashi was of course angered by Zuiten's error...

and Zuiten lost confidence in his powers.

In July, when Nobunaga left to attack Asai full force,

Zuiten's powers finally came through.

It was also the first battle for Nobushige.

Nobunaga set up camps near Odani Castle at Mt. Toragozen and Mt. Hibari.

I've returned.

I've returned.

How did things go?

The enemy has no intention of fighting.

This wasn't true in the past.

Even if the army was small, we fought it out.

The men at Mt. Yamamoto Fort are cowards.

Takigawa. Not all warriors are like you.

If they were, they would all be dead by now.

Sir Shibata. That isn't funny.

We have a lot of cowards in our company, too.

So, what is going on at Mt. Yamamoto.

We gave them a hard time.

Kawajiri, how about you?

My men set fire to the villages of Yogo and Kinomoto.

The fighters are really the Ikko Sect, not the Asai.

They lay in fields, hide in mountains,

and fight with the spirit of gods. Therefore they are unpredictable.

They seem to be increasing, too.

We are seeing them at all the battles lately.

Hongwanji ordered these men to rise against our armies.

Matsunaga Hisahide might have changed sides because of their moves.

Maeda...

Go to Sakamoto Castle and meet with Akechi Mitsuhide...

to find out what the shogun is up to.

I have a bad premonition. Go immediately.

Niwa. Continue with your report.

As I said before, Hassoyama Fort and Miyabe Fort...

should be strengthened in order to threaten Odani Castle.

It will also lead directly to Mt. Toragozen and Miyabe.

We will build a moat along Odani Castle.

Then everything between becomes a fort...

and our actions won't be seen by our enemies.

This makes it easier for us to fight.

We could take on tens of thousands of men.

That is grand...

How far do you think it is to Miyabe?

This is not the Great Wall of China.

We will divide it up and build it.

This is a waste of time.

It's easier just to take over Odani Castle.

We're not here to build moats.

Odani Castle is at the summit with steep slopes.

If we attack them, many men will die.

If the Asakura come to their aid,

we would be sandwiched and face defeat.

No army stands a chance against the storm.

Battles are won with the strength of lightning...

And, the force of the tsunami.

Rather than worrying about a pincer attack,

it is more effective to think of a counterattack.

Guarding a castle is not the way to victory.

He's right.

The moat was my idea.

We protect our castle and then go out to fight.

Otherwise, it is fighting without a plan.

Tsuneoki. Watch what you say.

Nagahide. Build the moat.

Send a few men out each day...

and have them set fires around Odani Castle to expose them.

If the Asakura do come to their aid,

without food or a place to rest, they won't be able to stay.

We can attack after that.

We want to win without losing our men.

Reporting! Asakura's army of 15,000 has appeared!

Asakura Yoshikage has finally made a move.

He didn't show up at the Battle of Anegawa.

I won't let him get away this time!

Odani Castle

Pardon me. The lord is here.

Rejoice. Lord Asakura has finally arrived.

He has finally made his move.

I'm glad to hear that.

When I see you, my heart softens.

I almost feel that I'm not in a battle.

You will win.

With you, I feel I have a thousand allies.

As I've said before, we will live and die together.

No matter what happens, you don't need to worry.

My only desire is to be at your side.

If only the enemy wasn't your brother.

Oh yeah, we agreed not to bring that up.

But, when I think of what you have to go through,

I sometimes wish this was all a bad dream.

I have forgotten about my brother.

You shouldn't be concerned.

You will win for sure.

My brother set fire to the temple at Mt. Hiei...

and defied the gods and Buddha.

He should be punished.

So heaven will be on your side.

I may have to depart for battle today.

I entrust the children with you.

Yes.

The Ikko Sect is moved by Hongwanji's head priest.

Then are you saying it all stems from the shogun?

That's right. Nobunaga has taken the Bakufu too lightly.

Even if the shogun doesn't have a military or power,

he has prestige and status.

Will anyone ignore a letter from the shogun?

Some are even honored by just having his seal.

The shogun has sent letters throughout Japan,

claiming that Nobunaga's actions at Mt. Hiei are unforgivable.

If the Hongwanji priests see such a letter,

a warm feeling grows within their hearts.

Now all of Japan is Nobunaga's enemy.

Then what will happen in the future?

It depends on Nobunaga's battle with the Asai-Asakura.

If Nobunaga loses,

an Imperial Order will be immediately decreed to admonish Nobunaga.

The shogun will obtain Imperial support...

and because Nobunaga is supposedly a threat to the Emperor,

the shogun will lead the cause.

Then Nobunaga is as good as dead.

The lord will win this battle without a doubt.

After the Battle of Anegawa,

the Asai and Asakura are depleted in strength.

He's up against more than just the Asai-Asakura.

First, there is the Hongwanji Ikko Sect.

Their power may eventually overtake all of Japan.

Next is mutineers, Matsunaga Hisahide and Miyoshi Yoshitsugu.

The Mori may also join in.

Then there are the Uesugi, Takeda, Miyoshi,

and others who may want a piece of the action.

The shogun will be on top of that.

Even Nobunaga won't stand a chance.

But, Hosokawa, I can't imagine those armies joining.

The Uesugi and Takeda are enemies.

Mori is busy battling the Sanyodo...

and has no time to be coming out to Kyoto.

Our lord will surely defeat the Asai-Asakura army...

and report to Kyoto within a month.

I can only pray it will happen that way.

If things continue the way it is,

the shogun and Nobunaga will go to battle...

and he will have even more enemies.

Now for the final blow.

Yes.

The slow starting Asakura Yoshikage...

has finally decided to come out of his nest to battle Nobunaga.

So, it's very soon.

With the Asai-Asakura, it will make 30,000 men.

Nobunaga has 50,000, but if he retreats, he loses.

That's right. When he retreats, he loses.

I'll finally get revenge for years of humiliation.

About a month later,

Hamamatsu's Tokugawa Ieyasu sent an urgent message to Nobunaga.

Mt. Toragozen Fort

Going to battle is much easier.

This sure is a long moat.

If we continue, it will reach Gifu.

Stop talking, you're not even working.

Whatever happened to the Asai-Asakura anyway?

The moat is so long,

they may see this as a large serpent from the mountain top.

If the serpent was this long, I would run too.

Maybe Nagahide had that in mind.

Just keep poking fun at me.

There will come a day when you will thank me.

Keep your voices down.

If the shogun is behind this, it's unforgivable.

We must overthrow Odani Castle...

and start thinking about the nation as a whole.

Where should we begin?

How about separating the Asai and Asakura...

and going to battle with them individually.

Reporting! A messenger is here from Lord Tokugawa Ieyasu.

Send him through.

Reporting! Kai's Takeda Shingen is moving with 30,000 men!

Takeda Shingen?

Which way is he headed? Mikawa? Totomi?

Rumors are that he's heading towards Kyoto.

Reports from Kofu say he will be departing in a month at the latest.

My lord wanted to forewarn you.

Good work.

Takeda Shingen has made a move...

That Yoshiaki...

He's lured me out so he could eliminate me!

What? Takeda Shingen?

"Suizanken"...

"Suizanken"...

So everybody, until next time...

To be continued.

To be continued.